Unilateral Change Not Acceptable: Jaishankar Meets China FM on LAC

"Agreed on convening an early meeting of Senior Military Commanders," Jaishankar said after meeting China's FM.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@DrSJaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S Jashankar held an hour-long bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Dushanbe Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers meeting on Wednesday, 14 July. The outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh was discussed.

"Highlighted that unilateral change of status quo is not acceptable. Full restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas is essential for development of our ties. Agreed on convening an early meeting of the Senior Military Commanders," Jaishankar tweeted after his meeting with China's state councillor and foreign minister.

MEA Statement

Following the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement said, “The two ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and also on other issues related to the overall India-China relations.”

Further as per the ministry statement:

• EAM Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart recalled their last meeting in Moscow, in September 2020.

• India’s EAM laid emphasis on the need to follow through on the agreement reached then and complete the disengagement, resolving the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh at the earliest.

• EAM Jaishankar pointed out to State Councilor that the successful disengagement in the Pangong Lake Area earlier this year had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues.

• Jaishankar also recalled that both sides had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side.

• EAM emphasised that maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas has been the foundation for the development of ties since 1988.

• Jaishankar emphasised that it was in mutual interest that the two sides work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols.

As per the MEA statement, the two ministers also noted the agreement reached upon in the last meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) to hold another round of talks between Senior Military Commanders.

“They agreed that this should be convened at the earliest. They also agreed that in this meeting, the two sides should discuss all the remaining issues and seek a mutually acceptable solution. There was also an understanding that both sides will continue to ensure stability on the ground and neither side will take any unilateral action that could increase tension.”

Ministry of External Affairs

Background

India and China have been locked in a tense standoff since last year in Ladakh, which escalated with the clashes at Galwan Valley that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

Several meetings have taken place to resolve the standoff at both the military and diplomatic levels. While disengagement has been achieved in some areas, tensions continue in others.